Pancreatic Cancer Information

Question: I need more information about Pancreatic Cancer? My stepfather is 48, just diagnosed about three weeks ago. I have some questions about the procedure the doctors did. From what I understand, he had alot of side pain and had some difficulty using the restroom. He went to the doctor and he was then referred to Johns Hopkins. The procedure they did was put a camera down his throat and take a part of the cancer out. He then had difficulty keeping solid foods down. He is now home but will start chemo in about six weeks. My family is very hush hush about everything (trying to protect everyone I guess) so I really don't know what stage he's in, the prognosis, etc. My question is, is it likely that the cancer has spread too far for the doctors to remove all of it? What is the general prognosis for someone who has just been diagnosed with this type of cancer. He does drink socially, smokes cigarettes, but is otherwise a healthy man. I am trying to find answers because no one else in my family wants to set things straight with me.

Answer: I lost my mother 4 years ago to pancreatic cancer. Doctors typically don't find pancreatic cancer until it has spread and is affecting nearby organs,.. so it's late stage 3 to late stage 4 by then. Tobacco use is a major risk factor with any cancer. Removing the tumor depends on how far it's spread, what tissues have been affected, and the overall health of the patient. Some doctors will try surgery, others will opt for strong courses of chemo and radiation. The prognosis is very poor, since it's always found in such an advanced state. Usually no more than 2 to 5 years at the most. My mom was a smoker for most of her life. When they foound the tumor they initially thought it was operable. When they opened her up they foun it had grown into her liver and wrapped around the Vena Cava. It was impossible to remove it. Chemo and some alternative treatments helped for a while, but all we were doing was buying her some time and making her comfortable. My mother lived 18 months after diagnosis. But by no means give up hope: do research, talk to doctors, talk to other patients, call support groups, call advocacy groups, look into alternative medicine, etc. Try to be positive for your stepfather and support each other. Support him in whatever decision he makes regarding treatments and his welfare. Most of all enjoy every day that he is with you. http://www.pancan.org

Question: Information about stage IV pancreatic cancer? My grandfather was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer today. He had been in remission for three years after beating it once. It's back in his lung now. He had surgery two weeks ago and they took out the mass that showed up on a catscan in November. They've done another catscan since the surgery and there may be another mass. One doctor thinks its a mass another thinks its a shadow. The oncologist said the treatment would be the same whether it was a mass or not. He will start chemo this week or next. Can someone give me some info about it? What are his chances? Don't sugar coat anything either.

Answer: Yikes! Pancreatic Cancer scares the hell out of me. My dad passed away because of that horrible disease. Stage 4 usually means that it has spread to other organs which is very bad. And unfortunately the prognosis for pancreatic cancer is really low, but since your grandfather has beaten it before here's hoping for a repeat. Good luck.

Question: Pancreatic cancer? Are there any symptoms for a person with pancreatic cancer when they are near death? My grandmother has Stage IV cancer and it was diagnosed in December and they gave her 4-6 months.. and it's been 4 months. So, I'm just wondering. Any information is appreciated! Thanks!

Answer: If your grandma is in Stage IV, her cancer is probably metastasized through most of her body and isn't just in her pancreas any more. It's hard to give any specific symptoms for being near death. Just treasure the time you still have with her, pay attention to her physical and emotional needs and support her as she feels sicker, more tired, and in more pain. As her doctors if there are any specific signs you need to be looking for; otherwise, just be there for her as long as you can.

Question: Who wants to Help Fight Pancreatic Cancer? Participate in any race or activity of your choice. Your fundraising efforts will benefit the Lorenzen Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness, increase education, and support research aimed at fighting pancreatic cancer. For more information call 1-877-647-0400 or email runners@pancreatica.org. Please check out our website www.pancreatica.org

Answer: I'll check it out, I know from medical webisites that Pancreatic cancer is one of most deadly you can get, along with liver cancer. I already participate in a cancer walk in my town every year, but I would love to help raise money to find a cure for this awful disease. Thanks for the info. ~Cody

Question: how effective is chemotherapy on pancreatic cancer? I found a source that said chemotherapy is not effective at all for pancreatic cancer- however this claim is outdated (1990). Has anyone a more recent source of information answering this question? Please reference a source is you can, becuase i need it for the paper i am writing. Preferably as new as possible (up to date) Thanks

Answer: It wasn't effective at all for my brother. The chemo didn't do a thing for him but make him sick. He was diagnosed last June, had chemo during the summer, and died in December. That was 2007, is that up-to-date enough?

Question: What Natural/Chinese Therapy in conjunction with Chemo can be used to fight Pancreatic Cancer? Someone close to me has been given literally a couple of months to live because of late diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer with secondary cancer of the liver... I am shocked, totally devastated and angry all at the same time.. Im trying to find some information on Chinese/Natural therapies to help this person while they are given Chemotherapy.. Any advice really appreciated xx

Answer: I understand your anger and your desire to help, but when a person goes through a treatment they need to retain their trust in the treatment and the doctor providing it, otherwise the best treatments may prove useless or harmful. Placebo effect is powerful. Mixing therapies does not necessarily help the survival ratio. The will to live needs to be worked on. Also helpful is faith in a Higher Power, governing the length of ones life, not a doctor or treatment. These are the natural life extending therapies. Also there are excellent books written by the survivors of the terminal cancer, please give as many as you can to the patient to prove that many people live long and happy lives, despite doctors predictions. You are a good person, be there to listen, to support, and to pray if the patient wants to, and believe that miracles do happen. Good luck!

Question: Pancrease Cancer Information? Hi, when I was 11 my Dad died of pancreatic cancer. At the time I never really questioned much about it.. I didn't even know what cancer he had until after he had died. But now as I'm 2 years older I know a bit more about it and have a few concerns such as what causes it.. could it be genetic... is there anything you can do to lowers the risk of getting it..etc!! Any information would be very appreciated. Thank you

Answer: Pancreatic cancer is not hereditary so don't worry, honey. It usually happens in adults over the age of 50 and usually happens twice as much to males, esp. to smokers ( another reason not to smoke). Some celebrity movie stars including Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing & The Beast on TV) and Michael Landon (Little House on the Prairie) have had it. There is no cure for you cannot live without your pancreas & it usually has progressed so far by the time it is found, that the prognosis is very poor. If found early, sometimes there can be surgery and chemo, which will prolong life.Usually the prognosis is 6 months, but of course that varies & people can live longer. There is loss of appetite, nausea & vomiting, weight loss, and other symptoms as well as pain as the disease progresses.If you see pictures of Patrick Swayze now in the tabloids, you can see what happens in the final stages, as he is still fighting it now.. You are young & healthy so enjoy life as you should at this stage of living. If you want to satisfy your curiosity, I'm sure there are web sites you can check for further info. Good luck & live well.

Question: When was Patrick Swayze first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? Or at least when were the first public reports of it? PLEASE leave the source of where you found the information!!! And please be as specific as possible with the date!

Answer: Was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March, 2008 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000664/news http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000664/bio

Question: Pancreatic Cancer HELP!? My cousin was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer... He has been admitted to the specialized hospital here in Kuwait. I am posting this question to get more information about doctors/clinics who performed on such cases. I am currently researching Mayo Clinic and seeking options. I would appreciate it very much if anyone here on this forum can provide me with details on clinics around the world that are well known for pancreatic cancer treatments, preferably providing me with doctor names and locations... even contact information! That would be great. Thanks

Answer: In the US some of the best places are Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/401.cfm Duke University in Durham, NC http://www.dukehealth.org/Services/Cancer/Programs/Gastrointestinal/index MD Anderson in Houston, TX http://www.mdanderson.org/diseases/pancreas/ These are some of the best here in the US. Should help get you started.

Question: Pancreatic cancer. Any answers will be fine? I just found out my neighbour accidentally found out he has pancreatic cancer. He developed jaundice (yellow skin) and when they did a scan they found a tumor. A biopsy has come back positive. He was told that if cancer was on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being the worst. He's a 9! And given him 6 months tops. I am so upset. He's has such a tough few years. It's just not fair. I know through my studies that pancreatic cancer is one of the worst, deadliest cancers to get. Is that correct? I had pancreatitis a few months ago and would rather give birth again any time as it hurt so much. Is Eric going to suffer worse than that pain wise? Stupid question I know. Please. Anybody with any information please answer. He's my second father. And I love him and his wife so much.

Answer: I'm sorry about your neighbor. Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst diagnoses you can get. I believe like your experience with pancreatitis, this cancer can cause some real and significant pain. But there are pain medications. He should get a referral from his oncologist to a pain specialist. There are doctors who can help him through this. The specialty may also be known as Palliative care. There is nothing fair about cancer, but pancreatic cancer seems to take "not fair" to a whole new level. My best wishes to you and your friend.

Question: Information about mums cancer? I have just turned 16 and my mum has pancreatic cancer she just got out of hospital after 6 weeks. it has spread so they were able to do nothing but gave her a stomach bypass. I still have to go to school as i have stayed off too much already as my gran died and i was so close to er and i wasnt well. social services are checking up to see if i am in so staying off sadly isnt an option I was wandering if anyone could tell me how bad mum is going to get and how long she may have. i want to know things such as will she be able to eat solid food untill she dies and will she be able to walk and if she will be in a lot of pain thanks Oh and would it be possible for her to go on holiday? we havnt been in 5 years as my granny had been very unwell and we cared for her she always wanted to go to new york. we live in the uk SHE WONT GET BETTER THAT IS MY POINT! THEY CANT OPERATE ON HER THEY TRIED AND IT SPREAD WHICH THEY WERNT EXPECTING SO THEY DID THE BYPASS...

Answer: I am so sorry. I can’t imagine having to go through this at your age. I was very close to my grandmother too. She died 13 years ago when I was in my 30s, I had a very hard time with it and I still miss her very much. You are right about your mom, she is not going to get better and I’m sorry to say it is not likely she will be able to go to New York. The median survival for people in your mother’s condition is 2-6 months. This means half the people in her condition are still alive at 2-6 months after diagnosis. The patients who live the longest are able to do normal day-to-day activities without getting tired and are able to maintain their appetite and weight. She should be able to eat solid food, but in time she won’t be eating very much. Encourage her to eat, but don’t push it as her body doesn’t need a lot of food. She should not have any problems walking, but she will be very tired and will probably spend more time sleeping, her skin coloring will change and you may notice she seems a little confused. She should not have a lot of pain, but if she does experience any pain at all her doctor can give her something that will take care of it. I worked with a doctor who died of pancreatic cancer a couple of years ago. I don’t know when he was diagnosed, but I noticed something was wrong around the end of November and he died the middle of May. He was able to work part-time until February and came to the hospital for meetings until early April. Although, everyone’s disease affects them differently I thought this may give you a better idea of what to expect. It all seems to happen very quickly, so make the best out of everyday you have together. May God bless you both.

Question: Pancreatic Cancer Stage 4? My father has stage 4 pancreatic cancer. The doctors gave him a few weeks, and he has outlasted their predictions...Thank God. He was going along without much pain or discomfort, but now he has started losing weight, and his appetite. He will eat sometimes, and do a good job finishing up the food, but other times he cant touch it. He now has pain in his upper abdomin and it goes around to his back, and he has the feeling of rocks in his stomach. He is also having very slight problem with breathing. He said he feels like he needs an inhaler. I know this means that the cancer is getting worse, and we knew it had spread to his other organs. If anyone has any information on this terrible disease, I would like to know what to expect next. His Dr is not much help, and I want to be prepared as much as possible, even though there is no way to be ready for this. I have read everything available, but I'm looking for a few real accounts of what happens. Thanks. He has lost a lot of weight, but was overweight before this point. He is now at his ideal weight but I can feel his bones when I touch his back. Also, he was given 5 - 6 weeks, but has now lasted Thank God, for 6 months. He tried chemo, but it made him so sick that he had to stop after 2 treatments. They told him 5 - 6 months with the chemo, so he figured he would go for the better quality of life, instead of being hospitalized the whole time.

Answer: Your father may qualify for hospice care. They can take teach you how to care for your father and what to expect. If he is in discomfort they will immediately take care of that need. Ask his doctor for a hospice referral. good luck. Here are some support groups that might be able to answer your specific questions: Confronting Pancreatic Cancer http://www.pancreatica.org/ PanCan http://www.pancan.org/ ACS: What is hospice care? http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_2_5X_What_Is_Hospice_Care.asp?sitearea=ETO

Question: anyone know someone with pancreatic cancer, or do u know anything about cyberknife? hi, my dad has pancreatic cancer at 65, i think it has spread to a vein but not to any large organs yet. he was diagnosed june 2007, so it will be two years this june. he has been on chemo trials (with a virus added) and the tumour shrunk, but he wanted to come off the trials, and he couldnt stay on them because he has developed diabetes (has this happened to anyone else...a result of the pancreatic cancer?) he is interested in the new cyberknife operation, the doctor has sent his info off and it looks and the harley street clinic has said they will bring his case up in the next board meeting. can anyone who has had cyberknife, or knows someone with pancreatic cancer tell me as much info as possible.costs, likeliness of getting the chance to have cyberknife etc all information will be appreciated, thankyou.

Answer: Cyberknife has been around at least 15-20 years. It’s a robotic machine that is able to direct radiation to small fields and uses imagining for excellent accuracy. Like everything else the cost depends on where you live, what kind of hospital it is done at and how many treatments are needed. It’s usually 2-5 for pancreatic cancer. I don’t know how likely he is to get it, it is usually up to the Radiation Oncologist.

Question: Can vicodin be used to supress pain from pancreatic cancer? Once again, I need some information for my "novel-in-the-making." My main character has metastatic pancreatic cancer- it's already advanced to his nearby organs. The plan is to have him die from this but I need to know some things about the cancer. I have already googled quite a lot and I do have most of the information I need. However, I need to know if vicodin could supress such pain, and if so, around what dosage would do this? And if not, what other pain medication could I have my character take? Help is appreciated, thanks in advance!

Answer: no it would have to be intravenous morphine for that stage

Question: Pancreatic cancer, London? A member of my family (60s, male) has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer with some spread to the liver. We do not currently have a full prognosis, but my limited understanding is that there's little good news to be had - it cannot be cured or even substantially slowed. At the moment he has received no significant treatment, though he will probably be given some form of chemotherapy shortly. I was wondering whether anyone has any information which might be of use. Clinical trials which can reasonably be reached from London (UK) would be interesting (if they're still accepting people with this precise condition), but any relevant information would be welcome. Please only answer if you have a fair idea what you're talking about, and no flippant or black-humoured comments, thank you. Just wanted to thank people for their answers. I'm going to leave picking a Best Answer to the voters, but that's not because there aren't any candidates - there's some very good information and advice here. Thanks again.

Answer: http://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/PCTrials.htm http://www.liv.ac.uk/news/press_releases/2007/03/telovac.htm http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=24192 http://www.lctu.org.uk/trial/trials_open.asp?id=48 http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114387.php There appears to be many trials for pancreatic cancer in the uk, as it's one of the leading cause of cancer deaths in uk.

Question: Info on Pancreatic Cancer? My dad has stage 3 terminal pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed last year ,and in this time has had a stomach bypass ,and they removed his gallbladder etc during this . Dad is doing well considering his condition ,and he gets chemo once a week . Dad also has Gastric reflux disease due to the stomach bypass . He takes an acid blocker pill for this ..Panaloc (sp). Dad is very active most days ,still drives ,and looks after himself but my question is somedays he just wont eat . It seems he is in a depresssion or is just giving up ,but then he talks about his future plans ,and what he wants to do in life. I dont know if this is normal ??? Dad goes days without eating or drinking ,his kidneys are fuctioning at less then 50% ,and his blood is very low to the point he is not allowed to cut himself etc due to blood loss. Dad seems to be happy though ,and he gets out and about with friends etc . Is the not eating ,and drinking normal ??? Dad does have problem swith nausea but i think it has alot to do with not taking the Panaloc the way he should . He also takes Tylenol 3 with codeine for pain when he needs too . Im curious to know if anyone else is going thruogh this with a loved one ,,and would love any information i can get . Thank you so much in advance . Cancer of the pancreas ...Dad has a tumor at the head of the pancreas which attached itself to his blood vessels . Surgery was not an option due to this fact.

Answer: 1st and foremost Im sorry to hear about your dad as a nurse I have seen this many times and all that your dad is going through is all normal for his diagnosis.I would try to talk with dad about drinking some ensure on the days he doesn't want to eat anything as this would give him some nourishment and keep him hydrated.The best thing you can do for him is give him support and let him deal with this in his own way.But he seems to be doing well for the most part.Get some ensure or make an milk shake with protein powder in it.God bless you and your father.